Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday lauded local candidates and voters for Monday’s relatively peaceful barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
She challenged the winners and those who lost to “unite for the greater good now that the elections is over,” saying to win “this bigger, more important battle, we need to be magnanimous victors and gracious losers so that we may unite for the greater good.”
“Congratulations to everybody who participated in this democratic exercise—whether as candidates or as voters. Yes critics, democracy is alive and well in the Philippines,” Belmonte said.
“The elections are over. The people have spoken. Let the work of building the future begin,” she added.
Citing the report from National Capital Region Police Office director Camilo Cascolan, the elections in Metro Manila, including Quezon City, were generally peaceful and orderly despite reports of vote-buying in Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches.
She described the recent elections as “very grueling.”
Being close to many barangay officials, Belmonte said she “felt the thrill of their victories and the pain of their defeats.”
She cast her vote at University of the Philippines’ Integrated School in Barangay Kristong Hari last May 14.